Article VI

This article exists because a healthy democracy depends on citizens understanding how their government works and how they can participate in it. Many Americans leave school with only a limited understanding of the Constitution, voting, government institutions, media literacy, and the responsibilities of citizenship, making it harder to hold leaders accountable and make informed decisions. 

This article requires nonpartisan civics education throughout primary school, secondary school, higher education, and workforce training programs, while also making civic learning resources freely available to all Americans. By ensuring that every citizen has access to a basic understanding of government, rights, responsibilities, and critical thinking skills, it helps create a more informed, engaged, and effective democracy.

Section 1 — Civics Education Curriculum in All Schools

Civics education, being essential and vital to the functioning of a free democratic society, shall be a required component of instruction in all primary and secondary schools operating within the United States.

Such education shall include, at a minimum:

1. the structure and function of federal, state, and local government;
2. the Constitution of the United States and its amendments;
3. the rights and responsibilities of citizenship;
4. electoral systems and voting procedures;
5. the rule of law, due process, and separation of powers;
6. the historical development and ongoing evolution of democratic institutions in the United States;
7. media literacy, including the ability to evaluate sources, distinguish factual reporting from opinion or propaganda, and understand the role of media in a democratic society

Civics education mandated by this Section shall be factual, nonpartisan, grounded in established constitutional and historical sources, and designed to develop civic competence rather than ideological adherence.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require any school to alter its institutional mission, religious instruction, or pedagogical philosophy beyond the provision of factual civics instruction meeting the minimum standards established under this Article.

Section 2 — Civics Education as a Core Requirement of Higher Education 

Civic education shall be a required component of any associate degree, bachelor degree, vocational certification, professional licensure program, apprenticeship, or other post-secondary educational or workforce training program operating within the United States.

Such instruction shall provide meaningful education concerning constitutional government, democratic institutions, civil liberties, civic responsibility, electoral systems, and public accountability.

Such instruction shall be factual, nonpartisan, and designed to promote civic competence rather than ideological adherence.

Institutions and programs subject to this Section shall retain discretion over course design and instructional methodology, provided such instruction is consistent with this Article.

Section 3 — Universal Public Access to Civic Education

The federal government shall ensure that civics education is freely and readily accessible to all persons, regardless of age or enrollment status, through publicly available educational resources.

Section 4 — National Standards; State and Institutional Implementation 

Congress shall enact and maintain baseline national standards for civic education consistent with this Article.

States, educational institutions, and workforce training programs shall retain authority over implementation, provided such instruction remains consistent with the requirements and purposes of this Article.